A group of retirees once again gathered in front of the Pension Fund Directorate in Kabul to protest the non-payment of their retirement benefits.

They are demanding that the Islamic Emirate authorities pay their long-overdue pension entitlements.

Abdullah, one of the retirees, attended the protest with his young child. He said he is responsible for supporting ten family members. Criticizing the authorities, he noted that while the government forcefully collects electricity and water bills from citizens, it fails to pay retirees their pensions.

Abdullah said: “I was served a court notice regarding an unpaid water bill and given a warning. If you don’t give me my money, how am I supposed to pay for electricity and water? My children are in school, they need food—and this is our situation. During Eid, we had no bread, and nothing else. We got through it with difficulty.”

The worsening economic situation and hardship have forced these retirees to line up weekly under the scorching Kabul heat to demand their rights.

They say they have no other source of income, and their only hope is to receive their pensions to cover basic living expenses.

Abdul Wasi, another retiree, said: “These retirees are all sick, poor, and suffering. They can’t afford medical care or rent. Where should they go? What should they do? Who should they turn to? All we ask is for our pensions to be paid—urgently.”

Many of the retirees say they served their country and people for three to four decades, and now deserve to receive their pensions, which were deducted from their salaries during their years of service.

Another retiree, Abdul Khalil, said: “Not just me, these retirees are all struggling. Many don’t even have money to pay for a bus ride to get here. One comes from Khairkhana, another from Kote Sangi, another from Darul Aman, none of them can afford even 10 afghani for transport. For the past four years, we’ve come here daily, heartbroken, frustrated, and in tears, only to go back home empty-handed.”

Ahmad Zia, also a retiree, said: “We retirees have served Afghanistan—we didn’t serve anywhere else. We are only asking for our salaries and legal rights.”

Following the order of the leader of the Islamic Emirate to establish a special court to review the pension issue, there has been no new information from the caretaker government regarding pension payments.

Meanwhile, retirees continue to stress that they do not need a court, they insist receiving their pensions is a legal right, and that both the authorities and the international community should take steps to ensure their payments are made.